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The Black Forest m i s i9" 

OP V HSKt«»ES 

Pennsylvania 



AN ADDRESS 

BY 

HON. ALBERT S. HECK 

President Judge, 55th Judicial District of Pennsylvania, 

to the Sportsmen of the Wild Life League, at 

Conneaut Lake, September 6, 1916 



Compiled by JOHN P. REIFF, Secretary 

Montgomery County Fish, Game, and Forestry Association 

Norristown, Pa. 



•y Transfer 

APR 11 19!. 



The Black Forest ^ttt 

OF 

Pennsylvania 



AN ADDRESS 

BY 

HON. ALBERT S. HECK 

President Judge, 55th Judicial District of Pennsylvania, 

to the Sportsmen of the Wild Life League, at 

Conneaut Lake, September 6, 1916 



Compiled by JOHN P. REIFF, Secretary 

Montgomery County Fish, Game, and Forestry Association 

Norristown, Pa. 



Fifteen hundred copies printed 
of which this is No. 'ij''± i 






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PLATE I 




THE FOREST PRIMEVAL— THE 
BLACK FOREST 

The lumbermen cut down the trees but intelligent 

forest practice will restore their successors, 

of equal size and quality 



FOREWORD 

WHY do men of wealth and prominence, involved in 
the affairs of city, state, and nation, as well as those 
of more modest accomplishment and surroundings, filled 
with the exaltation born of boyhood memories, come together 
in congenial groups where each is the equal of his fellows, 
there to rehearse their experiences with camera, rod, and 
gun? Why are they glad to leave the rush and turmoil of 
business behind for a few sweet days of quiet in the woods, 
eating the plainest food, sleeping next to the ground, and with 
boats, dogs, and comfortable apparel, devote the limited time 
at their disposal to a re-creation of the spirit of the wild, 
build their fires, cook their food, and eat it with a relish 
nowhere found except under similar circumstances? 

The impulse which drives a man to enjoy this kind of a 
vacation must be something of great value. Is it the lure of 
the camp, or the glare of the fire, or the frenzy of the hunt, 
or the thrill of the trout at the end of a line, or the coming 
together of kindred spirits, or is it something deeper seated 
in the nature of man which periodically impels him to seek 
a surcease from what we call civilization, and return to a 
state of primitive quiet? 

So numerous are they with limited opportunity to visit 
the choicest haunts, and so unsatisfied has been their longing 
in the past for a larger chance near at hand, that in our kind 
of community life we feel it a necessity that legislative author- 
ity be not only urged but appealed to for the establishment of 
better recreation areas; places where men may play, enjoy 
their favorite sport, rest at evening, and then return to the 
daily task filled with memories of pleasant days and with hope 
for an early return. 

3 



Before the Legislature of Pennsylvania there lies at this 
time an opportunity to acquire at small expense that unusual 
region formerly and literally The Black Forest of Pennsylva- 
nia, but today only partially perpetuated by the name. 
Nowhere in the State is there another region so accessible 
and so amenable to quick development as the land hereinafter 
described by his Honor, Judge Heck. 

Legislators of Pennsylvania, the citizens of this Common- 
wealth confidently look to you to support them in their hopes 
and their ambitions. They earnestly urge your hearty assist- 
ance and co-operation in procuring for them while it is still 
procurable that great tract of forest land to be devoted prim- 
arily to the restoration of proper forest cover, where our 
people, regardless of station, may find that joy in recreation 
and that pleasure in the out-of-doors which acts as a tonic for 
tired nerves, and blesses the present-day people as well as the 
generations to come. 

Members of the Legislature, the eyes of the people are 
turned in your direction. 

The compiler of the address by Judge Heck believes that 
it contains so much of value and is of such an informing 
nature that it should be placed prominently before our people. 
He feels that they ought to be advised of the opportunities 
at hand, and that there should be provided a recreation ground 
of ample proportions such as we nowhere now have in the 
State, and which few other Commonwealths on the Atlantic 
seaboard will ever be able to establish. For this reason the 
compiler believes that he is performing a real duty in pro- 
curing the assent of Judge Heck to the publication of the 
following address, and the placing of it before the people of 
Pennsylvania. 

JOHN P. REIFF 




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The Black Forest 

of Pennsylvania 

MOST persons have in a general way heard of 
The Black Forest of Pennsylvania. It has 
features peculiar to itself and a history and com- 
position with which, I believe, not many men 
are familiar, but which have a large meaning for the 
work of the Wild Life League, and to every man 
who is concerned with the present day welfare and 
the ancient glory of Pennsylvania. 

The Black Forest is not an area clearly defined 
as we understand the boundaries of private prop- 
erty. Speaking of it as a whole, it comprises an 
irregular tract of land lying in a generally north- 
westerly and southeasterly direction, in parts of the 
counties of Clinton, Lycoming, Tioga, Potter, Cam- 
eron, McKean, Elk, and Warren. Its greatest length 
in its northerly and southerly extension is about 
100 miles, and from east to west it varies from 20 
to 50 miles. Its area is greater than the historical 
Black Forest of Germany, the famous Schwartzwald. 

Before the lumberman did his work, this tract 
of land was clothed with a remarkable growth of 
timber. In certain parts of it much white pine of the 
best quality was found. On the ridges and some of 
the side hills there was a luxuriant growth of hard- 
woods, but everywhere the predominating timber 



was hemlock. So dense and thick was this virgin 
woody cover that the whole region had the appear- 
ance of a great black mass with scarcely an open 
spot to break the wonderful panorama of duskiness. 
From this fact it received its name, The Black Forest. 

Speaking of the region as it is today, it is not 
my purpose to refer to the whole of that area origin- 
ally known as The Black Forest. That portion of 
it lying within McKean, Elk, and a part of Cameron 
and Warren counties, bears valuable minerals, 
natural gas, and oil. In this portion of the region 
the State has been enabled to acquire little if any 
land for forestry purposes. While wild and moun- 
tainous and well adapted for forestry, sport, and 
recreation, by reason of its commercial mineral value 
it does not possess the same interest for us as the 
region lying to the southeast and southward. 

In calling this territory to your attention, it is 
not my present purpose to advocate slighting in any 
respect any other portion of the State which should 
receive the attention of the Wild Life League or the 
State forestry officials; but, as already said, it is my 
purpose to remind you of certain peculiarities inher- 
ent in this region which should be the means of 
commending it strongly to your favor, and which 
peculiarities and marks of excellence are not found 
in the same degree nor to the same extent elsewhere 
within the State. 

Referring to the map in Plate II, this detail is 
furnished for the purpose of conveying an adequate 
idea of the extent and nature of the region, and, by 

6 



PLATE III 



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BLACK FOREST 



THE BLACK FOREST OUTLINED, SHOWING DRAINAGE 
AREAS AND THE NUMEROUS STREAMS 



PLATE IV 



NEW YORK 




BLACK FOREST 

STATE LAND 



THE BLACK FOREST OUTLINED, SHOWING PRESENT 
STATE FORESTS LOCATED WITHIN THE AREA 



comparison, it shows the relation of The Black Forest 
to other and adjacent parts of the State. The Black 
Forest area, included within the heavy dark line as 
shown in Plate III, and for a short distance around 
it, is approximately 725,000 acres, of which the 
State now owns about 230,000 acres. The State lands 
are indicated by the black areas in the map as shown 
in Plate IV. The greatest length of the area of State 
land as the crow flies is 45 miles, and its greatest 
width 41 miles. These and other figures used in this 
address are intended to be only approximate, but by 
reason of personal verification I can vouch for their 
substantial accuracy. The maps herein exhibited 
have been furnished by the Pennsylvania Depart- 
ment of Forestry, and to the Department for this 
courtesy I desire to acknowledge my great indebted- 
ness. 

Of the 700,000 acres of Black Forest land herein 
exhibited, not over 12,000 acres are improved. By 
that I mean land under tillage or used for pasturage. 
The remainder is woods, wild forest, and brush land. 
The tract is bounded on the east by Pine Creek and 
on the west and southwest by the Susquehanna and 
its tributaries. On the north the line is drawn so 
as to exclude any thickly settled regions. Within 
the lines there are but two settlements of any 
moment. One is the borough of Austin, with a large 
paper mill, the other the village of Costello, three 
miles southeast of Austin, where a large tannery is 
located. Both are on tributaries of the Sinnemahon- 
ing Creek. These settlements are situate in the 

7 



valleys and their presence has but small relation to 
the wild lands immediately adjoining them. 

Again consulting the map in Plate III, you will 
at once see that this tract is a great watershed. A 
ridge runs from the southern to the northern limit 
through the midst of it. On the easterly side are the 
tributaries of Pine Creek and on the westerly side the 
tributaries of the Susquehanna. 

It is not my purpose to enumerate all of these 
tributaries but to make mention of a few of consider- 
able size. The first stream on the Susquehanna side 
of any importance is Young Woman's Creek, 17 
miles long. The next is Kettle Creek, the largest 
tributary in this region. With its source at the west- 
erly edge of Tioga county, it flows through Potter 
and Clinton counties into the Susquehanna at West- 
port, and is about 40 miles in length. The next 
tributary to the west, Sinnemahoning Creek, is about 
34 miles long. 

On the Pine Creek side there is Slate Run, a 
stream 13 miles long, and the headwaters of Pine 
Creek with its numerous branches. All the larger 
streams have important branches, taking their rise on 
the dividing ridge. The highest point of the ridge 
is about 2250 feet above sea level. When the great 
fall of these waters from source to mouth is consid- 
ered, you will gather a more convincing idea of the 
character of the streams under consideration. All 
are fed by cold springs running over rock or gravel 
bottom in their dashing flight to the main river. 

8 



PLATE V 




THE BLACK FOREST AS NATURE BUILT IT 
Fragments of the original cover are scattered here and there 



Generally all these splendid streams are without 
pollution. The worst blot in the whole region is 
that which lies upon Sinnemahoning Creek, because 
of the drainage from the paper mill and tannery just 
referred to. Those who knew this wonderful and 
picturesque stream prior to its becoming a victim of 
industry, cannot avoid a vigorous protest at the 
sacrifice. On the Pine Creek side there is one acid 
factory and one tannery. The acid factory and tan- 
nery are now using filter plants and we believe that 
the proprietors of these works are making an honest 
effort to avoid contaminating the streams. However, 
there is still more pollution going into Pine Creek than 
there should be, and with a little more care we believe 
this stream may be saved in its purity. The wonder- 
ful Tiadaghton, as the Indians called it, may thus be 
preserved sweet and clean for the benefit of all the 
people. 

As is the case in all of northern Pennsylvania, 
this region is favored by a large annual rainfall. So 
far as known, the mineral deposits are of small extent. 
To my knowledge the only mineral operations at this 
time are some coal mines in Cooks Run along the 
Susquehanna River and the clay mines near Lock 
Haven. It is not believed that the region contains 
much valuable mineral which may be operated 
profitably. 

I wish to call your attention to one fact particu- 
larly. The soil of this territory is unusually good 
for mountain land. In Potter county we find the 
best farms on the plateaus, and although too steep 



for agricultural purposes, the side hills are covered 
with splendid soil. To the southward these good 
conditions are not so marked, the soil being thinner, 
rougher, and more sandy in character. 

It is entirely unnecessary to state that this 
region was, and until a very late day has been, the 
scene of a great lumbering industry. At this time, 
with one or two unimportant exceptions, lumbering 
has ceased and has been at an end for a number of 
years. The white pine was removed first, as has always 
been the case in this State. Determined regular com- 
mercial cutting of the balance of the timber did not 
commence until about thirty years ago. Then the 
large lumber companies appeared on the scene and 
in a remarkably short space of time left the hills 
stripped of their wonderful forest growth, a wilder- 
ness of slash, a panorama of ugliness, a land of deso- 
lation. I do not suppose that we ought to nourish a 
grievance because of the removal of this timber for 
commercial purposes. The wood was ripe and it was 
proper to take it away ; but we of today who know of 
the destruction, the devastation, and the sinful waste 
in the method of lumbering, feel that we have a 
serious right to complain. I believe you know this 
history. Only the very choicest was taken. The 
timber was slashed, the tops and debris left on the 
ground. A careless match, a defective screen in a 
locomotive, or a denizen of the woods nursing a griev- 
ance, both singly and in combination, meant a forest 
fire which covered thousands upon thousands of acres 
before it could be brought under control. Much of 

10 



PLATE VI 




THE BLACK FOREST AFTER THE 
LUMBERMAN WRECKED IT 

Shall it be permitted to remain as it now 

is, "a wilderness of slash, a panorama 

of ugliness, a land of desolation"? 



the land was burned over several times. The beech, 
birch, and maple, the hardwoods generally, were 
regarded of little value. Nothing but the best was 
wanted. Nearly all the remaining standing timber 
was killed. I do not know of a more desolate scene 
than the black ruins left by a forest fire, after it has 
wrought its destruction in a well grown, dense 
mature forest. A large percentage of this land, so 
large in fact that I can say almost all of it, has at 
one time or another been the scene of a forest fire. 
It was the common belief and understanding among 
our people from fifteen to twenty years ago that the 
fires in this region had so destroyed the humus and 
the seeds remaining therein, that reforesting could be 
done only by the actual planting of trees. But one 
fact I desire to impress upon you, and the most 
important statement I have to make today is, that the 
greater part of this land is again being covered by 
wonderful young forest, and this is being accom- 
plished by means of natural regeneration. True it 
is that at places the fire fiend did its work so thor- 
oughly and viciously that trees cannot grow again 
until the land is planted. But our forestry experts 
estimate that in Potter county alone, if fires are kept 
from the land from now on, 90% of the ground will 
be reforested naturally with a fine young hardwood 
forest. In the southern portion natural reforesting 
will likewise occur, but the growth will not be so 
dense nor will the area be so fully covered. Many 
barren spots will need the assistance of the forester 
before they are again clothed with timber. 

11 



It is a remarkable and edifying sight to go into 
some parts of this region, where fires have been kept 
from the ground for fifteen or twenty years, see the 
wonderful second growth that is now thriftily going 
toward maturity, and note how good to us Mother 
Nature is, after all the abuse she has received at our 
hands. 

The young timber we now see coming on is 
birch, beech, maple, basswood, ash, black cherry, and 
chestnut. You may be interested to know that 
thousands of acres today contain splendid growth of 
young chestnut timber, and unless invaded by the 
chestnut bark disease will become one of the finest 
young chestnut stands to be found anywhere in the 
State. I am glad to say to you that this destructive 
pest, the chestnut blight, has not yet made any serious 
invasion into our northern forests. In this whole 
region the Chestnut Blight Commission reported 
only twenty widely scattered cases of blight, and at 
present there does not seem to be any marked ten- 
dency toward spreading. We live in hope that in 
Pennsylvania there may be regions where we may 
continue to have this useful tree as one of our forest 
denizens. The value of the chestnut tree to Penn- 
sylvania is enormous, and that we must sit idly by 
and calmly watch its destruction, apparently helpless 
to stay the devastation, seems too sad to be true. 

The reason for the natural reforesting now 
going on over the greater part of The Black Forest 
is its deep, rich soil well adapted for tree growing and 
the large rainfall which is reasonably constant and 

12 



well distributed. In spite of the destruction by 
forest fire, we have a nucleus of a forest, and if we 
would preserve it to its maturity it becomes the duty 
of all of us to throw such a protective shelter about 
it that it may continue to thrive unchecked in the 
vigor of its youth and be preserved as a heritage of 
priceless value. 

From the foregoing facts it must clearly appear 
that the region of The Black Forest is strictly a 
forestry proposition. I am authorized by our Com- 
missioner of Forestry, to say that in his opinion 
The Black Forest offers the finest extended forest 
promise in the State. But one thing is required to 
maintain it as such, — protection from forest fires. 
If this be secured, as it may be, you may see for 
yourselves by going upon the ground that nature is 
now at work and will in the near future clothe this 
region again with valuable forest such as will be no 
mean successor to that which has preceded it. 

The State protects its own forests. It protects 
the land of adjoining owners as far as it possibly can, 
having in view preventing the spread of fires to its 
own lands. It wants to protect all the forest lands 
in the State, public or private. But the private owner 
in this region cannot afford to expend sums of money 
in protecting his woodland from fire ; for, to most of 
them, the land is of little or no commercial value and 
years must elapse before it may become so again. 

It seems to me there is but one thing to do. I 
am able to arrive at no other conclusion, and that is 
that these lands must be possessed by the State and 

13 



that the State shall exercise all adequate measures 
for protection, restoration, and administration. This 
land may be purchased for a price not in excess of 
$2.00 per acre, and much of it for less than that 
because it is worth less. Being so splendidly adapted 
for the practice of scientific forestry, this whole sub- 
ject may well be given the immediate attention of 
the Legislature. Most of the land may be bought 
now and the balance of it must come into the market 
within the next few years. 

It is hardly necessary for me to discuss before 
this audience the great and moving necessity resting 
upon the people of this State to give more serious 
attention to the subject of reforesting its wild lands. 
The condition of these lands affects not only the 
people who live in their vicinity, but directly or in- 
directly every citizen in the State. As the years go 
by this effect will not only continue but appear in 
exaggerated form. It is astonishing how indifferent 
those of our people are who are not in immediate 
contact with these facts. The lack of information 
bearing upon the relation between forested hillsides, 
stream flow, lumber products, employed labor, good 
wages, and contented communities is so great that 
we wonder how it becomes possible for an intelligent 
people so to close their eyes to facts which are not 
only self evident but obtrude themselves upon our 
gaze whether we direct our attention to them or not. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Forestry has 
for years recognized the great value of this land for 
forestry purposes, and so far as their means and the f 

14 



opportunity to purchase have permitted, have ac- 
quired them as rapidly as possible. It is indeed a 
fact that nowhere else in the State is there such a 
continuous solid body of adaptable land which fur- 
nishes opportunity for easy reforesting and which 
will eventually repay the State so well, as these lands. 
And I wish further to emphasize the fact that repay- 
ment will not only consist of money, dollar for dollar, 
covering the outlay for purchase and development, 
but parallel therewith will be the unusual opportu- 
nity to adapt this new forest to become the great wild 
life, sporting, and recreation centre of the State. 

In the past this region was the scene of many 
stirring events, and today the traditions of its former 
glories still hover over it in an endless variety of 
forms. A discussion of this feature of The Black 
Forest would unquestionably be of interest. But 
time forbids, and besides it has been done so well by 
another that I may simply refer you to Mr. Henry 
W. Shoemaker's "Black Forest Souvenirs." Most of 
the scenes and incidents so well portrayed in that 
book are laid in this region, and as the author him- 
self states, they comprise but a fraction of what it 
is possible to glean in relation to almost every part 
of the region under discussion. 

Could this land be purchased and administered 
by the State, there would follow certain results 
which should be of great interest to the Wild Life 
League. Before the lumberman came, here was an 
unobstructed range for game of many kinds. In the 
early part of the last century great herds of elk and 

15 



mountain buffalo made their homes here. Deer were 
found in abundance. There was no limit to the trout 
in the mountain streams, and it has always been a 
favorite resort for the black bear. Here also there 
were panthers, wolves, and innumerable thousands 
of the wild passenger pigeon, all of which have now 
passed away. The forest itself, composed mostly of 
evergreens, contained trees of enormous size, and 
the stumps which remain as the only reminders of 
the real character of the primeval forest, mutely tes- 
tify to the size and quality of the trees which this 
land is capable of producing. Here the Indians lived 
and their trails were the first roads followed by the 
white man, and here the legends still attach to all 
that which went to make up that rough frontier civili- 
zation, by means of which there was later hewn out 
of the wilderness a way for that culture and civili- 
zation which we esteem to be of better quality but 
not one whit more sturdy or honest in character. 

Today all this is changed. The elk and bison 
have gone. A few deer remain, and by reason of the 
protection given them, are increasing from year to 
year. The bear is still found. The brushland is 
now a retreat for the ruffed grouse. Rabbits and 
mountain hare are in great abundance and those who 
love to follow the dog over the mountain and down 
the valley may enjoy this sport in tracking the 
numerous foxes and wild cats which still infest the 
neighborhood. Trout are still to be found in the 
streams, but nothing to compare with the former 
stock nor with what, at slight cost to the State the 

16 



PLATE VIII 




A TYPICAL TROUT STREAM 

The flow will be augmented and stabilized 
by better forest conditions 



streams are capable of being made to support. Pine 
Creek with its sixty miles and Kettle Creek with its 
twenty-five miles of main stream furnish excellent 
bass fishing for those who enjoy this sport. 

Could this region be reforested, protected, and 
developed, sport for the hunter and fisherman, and 
recreation for whomsoever will, would be without 
limit. The Game Commission recognizes these facts 
by placing within the borders of The Black Forest 
three game preserves, one of which was stocked with 
deer and elk in 1915. The remaining two will be 
similarly stocked this coming winter. Here the food 
and cover furnished by the young growth of trees 
and demanded for the protection of game birds and 
game animals is unlimited, and the thick undergrowth 
furnishes a character of protection which amounts to 
almost absolute insurance against extermination. 

I have already spoken of the grouse. I know 
of no locality where they exist in such abundance 
today as here. The trout streams are ideal in charac- 
ter, and I state conservatively that there are from 
300 to 400 miles of such streams, all capable of being 
stocked and furnishing such a riot of sport as is now 
unknown to any other portion of the State, and prob- 
ably has been so for a generation. 

To accomplish what is here suggested requires 
State ownership and State administration. The 
trees, the game, and the fish must be protected by 
State officials. The distances are too great and the 
population too small to expect this work to be done 
locally or to have it done with that degree of pre- 

17 



cision vv'hich is essential to work of this character. 
State ownership of The Black Forest would stamp 
this region as the public playground for all the 
people. The extent of land, the diversity of hill and 
valley, of river and rill, of forest cover, of density and 
age, would be equal to anything furnished by the 
Adirondacks and superior to the Maine woods for 
an outing. Our people need not, at great expense, 
go to some other and distant locality. They would 
use that which is for all, almost immediately at hand, 
and to be reached within a few hours at moderate 
expense. Thousands of dollars would be saved to 
the sportsmen of the State and to those who come 
for the simple purpose of enjoying the great out-of- 
doors. 

The Black Forest is so located that we find a 
railroad upon both sides of it, and almost through 
the centre runs the Coudersport and Jersey Shore 
turnpike. This old road, built in the early part of 
the last century, gave an outlet to the early settlers 
in Potter county. It took from five to six days to 
make the round trip from Coudersport to Jersey 
Shore. The people would take their potash, maple 
sugar, and skins to the nearest store, which was at 
Jersey Shore, where these products would be ex- 
changed for cornmeal, cloth, and a few other simple 
necessaries of life which they required. With the 
coming of the railroads the pike was practically 
abandoned for this kind of traffic, and remained so 
for over half a century. 

18 



Recently the State of Pennsylvania has taken 
this road over as a part of its reconstructed highway 
system and is now building it anew. Already com- 
pleted some distance beyond the Potter county line, 
work is now being done on the southern end. It is 
expected that it will be finished early next year. 
With this pike in good travelable condition, there 
will be furnished to the people of Pennsylvania one 
of the finest scenic drives to be found anywhere. 
The road lies principally on the dividing ridge 
between Pine Creek's waters and the Susquehanna 
waters. The distant views obtained from the height 
of ground are beyond comparison. There is no doubt 
that our people will fully appreciate it and use it 
gladly when the State has finished its work of recon- 
struction. The chap who works for a small salary 
and looks forward to his week's outing in the woods 
as almost his whole stimulus for a year's service, can 
reach this district and enter all parts of it, with small 
expense. In considering this question, this is the 
type of man we should have in mind; and above all 
we must not forget that the Pennsylvania woman who 
works for her living, is equally entitled to receive the 
stimulus of an inexpensive outing. With meager 
salary she is unable to take recreation at the expen- 
sive seashore and mountain resorts. The modest 
cottages and tidy cabins in the woods where visitors 
may be received and entertained, hold special allure- 
ment to the employe of store and shop, the person of 
small means. And since this class of people, the 

19 



workers of the Commonwealth, constitute the back- 
bone of the population, can there be any civic experi- 
ment or economic venture which will in greater 
degree promote the virility and stability of our best 
people than an opportunity given by the State to 
enjoy such a play ground as that we are now urging? 
I have not attempted to discuss the question of 
practical or scientific forestry, but it must seem plain 
to everyone that the State should not only acquire 
this land but that immediate steps should be taken 
to get it. There are two reasons why this should be 
done and done at once. First, to organize and co- 
ordinate all effort to prevent forest fires. Second, to 
prevent the best of the remaining land from being 
acquired in large area by individuals and erected into 
private shooting and hunting preserves to the exclu- 
sion of the public. Should such a condition as this 
result from tardiness of State action, it would be 
most unfortunate. We have before us the experience 
of the people of the State of New York in the 
Adirondacks, where the finest tracts of land for sport- 
ing and recreation are now owned by private per- 
sons. This ownership has been and now is the source 
of friction and difficulty between the owners and the 
public, just as has been the case always where pri- 
vate owners of large means have sequestered great 
tracts of land throughout civilized Europe during the 
centuries, resulting in constant friction between 
poachers on the one hand and game keepers on the 
other. I am advised that in the eastern part of Penn- 

20 



r 



PLATE X 




THE BLACK FOREST AS THE SETTLER SAW IT 

The interlocking crowns and tall mast-like stems 
made the Forest dusky at midday 



sylvania this very thing has gone on to a consider- 
able extent; that there are now in Pike and Monroe 
counties private preserves covering over 30,000 acres 
of land, from which the public, the summer recrea- 
tionist, and the sportsmen of the State are excluded. 
In The Black Forest we have but little of it yet. 
There is one preserve of about 3500 acres, another 
of about 1000 acres, from which the public is ex- 
cluded. The danger is constantly ahead of us that 
ever larger and larger areas in this superb region will 
be withdrawn from the use of the public. 

I have now tried to state to you the simple facts 
in a plain manner. The Black Forest is purely and 
simply a forestry proposition, and is by all odds, I 
believe, better than that which is offered in any 
other part of the State. It will furnish sport and 
recreation for a large proportion of our people, and 
there is no reason why any of us should be compelled 
to go beyond the borders of Pennsylvania for that 
which we may obtain, figuratively speaking, at our 
own very back doors. The accessibility of The Black 
Forest makes it convenient to the greater part of our 
population and State ownership should especially in- 
terest the people of the western part of the Common- 
wealth. If this be true, as I believe it is, then the 
Wild Life League should make it a part of its purpose 
to urge upon the coming Legislature the high and 
immediate necessity for the purchase of this land. 

Whether or not the League has other and graver 
questions to the exclusion of this, is for you to 

21 



determine; but it seems to me that we have here an 
opportunity to acquire this property at slight expense. 
To the State of Pennsylvania this would be a burden 
of almost inappreciable moment, and would, at the 
same time, make for it one of the finest State Forests 
to be found anywhere. Collateral to State owner- 
ship, it would furnish that great play ground for 
health and recreation, sport and outdoor life, to which 
newly revived spirit of in-the-open living, all well 
informed men are irrevocably committed. 



22 



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Since the delivery of the foregoing address by Judge 
Heck, the people of New York at the recent election, by a 
referendum vote, decided to tax themselves $10,000,000 for 
the purchase of land for State forests. Of this amount 
$7,500,000 will be applied to buy land in the Adirondacks and 
Catskills, and $2,500,000 in the preserve known as the High- 
lands of the Hudson. A private subscription of $2,500,000 is 
also available now for the latter preserve. Twelve million, 
five hundred thousand dollars for the purchase of State forests, 
and approved by popular vote of the people! Pennsylvania 
has, to date, spent only a little over $2,000,000 for all of her 
land purchases. When New York does things, she does them 
big. 

THE COMPILER 



23 



